How to get a tax refund on purchases from Louis Vuitton and Chanel in France? — Wevat (2024)

How to get a tax refund on purchases from Louis Vuitton and Chanel in France?

If you’re a fashion enthusiast traveling to France, chances are you’ve set your sights on a shopping spree at luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton and Chanel. To help you make the most of tax-free shopping in France this spring, Wevat is accepting invoices from Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Dior, Céline, and Hermès for all eligible tourists traveling to France for a limited time!

By getting a VAT refund with the Wevat tax refund app, you can expect to save up to 13% on your purchases! Here’s what you need to know before shopping and a guide on how to get a tax refund for purchases from luxury fashion retailers like Louis Vuitton, Chanel, etc.

What you need to know if shopping tax-free at Louis Vuitton and Chanel

Non-EU citizens, which includes British travellers as a result of Brexit, can now reclaim the tax on purchases made on a majority of items such as clothing, jewelry, electronics, beauty products, and much more. Check out our other blogs and help section for more information on what can or cannot be claimed.

There are two main ways you can get tax refunds on purchases made in France - using a traditional in-store paper method, or a digital app like Wevat. If you go down the traditional in-store tax refund method, you can only get a tax refund with traditional tax refund providers (like Global blue, and Planet) that the retailer is partnered with.

You’d have to bring your passport around with you when shopping and show it to the store every time you buy something over the €100 minimum qualifying amount to get a tax refund form.

Since the retailer works in partnership with the traditional tax player, they will take a cut from your refund, which means the refund you take home would be less than if you used a digital refund app like Wevat. You will obtain a 12% VAT refund (excluding any foreign exchange fees) on purchases of over €100 made at a single store per transaction.This will reduce if instant cashback at the airport is chosen.When departing, you’ll need to keep all your shopping receipts and paper tax refund forms and undergo complicated airport procedures with customs.

Choosing to use a digitalised tax refund app like Wevat over the in-store method, you can get more of the refund because the retailer doesn’t take a cut. No more paper refund forms to carry around each time you shop, or potentially lose - the app combines invoices together into a single digital refund form, accessible at any time on your phone. You can also keep track of your refund in the app and talk with in-app customer support chat very easily. It’s also worth remembering that traditional in-store tax refunds require a minimum spend of €100 per purchase or shop, whereas with Wevat the €100 minimum purchase is per trip.

Normally, shopping with Wevat, you’ll need to ask the sales assistant for a valid purchase invoice (“facture” in French) when checking out and make sure it is addressed to Wevat. Instructions on how to do this can all be found in the app. However, staff at some luxury fashion retailers might be keener for you to use the traditional tax refund so they can still get cut from your refund. Shops including Louis Vuitton and Chanel might be hard for you to obtain an invoice. If you shop at Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Dior, Céline, and Hermès, the procedure for obtaining an invoice is different. Continue reading below to learn about how to get a tax refund on purchases from these luxury boutiques in France with Wevat.

How to get a tax refund at Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Dior, Céline, and Hermès with Wevat

Step 1: Sign up to Wevat and check your eligibility

Step 2: Shop at Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Dior, Céline, or Hermès and try to request a ‘facture’ (invoice in French) - show the ”request an invoice” in the app to get an invoice addressed to Wevat and not yourself

*If your purchase is less than €6000 and it’s impossible to obtain the commercial invoice under Wevat for us to process your tax refund, please do the following procedure:

  1. Write down “Bought on behalf of VATCAT FRANCE” + your first and last name + purchase date on the invoice or receipt. Then sign the shop receipt

  2. Upload the receipt on the app

  3. If your purchase is over €1000, send us your proof of payment on live chat

Step 3: Verify your claim at your departure point - follow the prompts on the screen to get your digital refund form

Step 4: Scan and go - visit the tax refund kiosk within customs departure areas, scan the barcode on the Wevat app, and off you go! You can track your refund status 2 days after your departure. Make sure to keep goods claimed on hand in case of checking (in unused and original packaging).

⚠️ Please remember you can only use one tax refund form for your refund, so if you choose to use Wevat you can’t scan any forms issued by any other tax refund companies. A duplicate claim might cause both claims to be rejected by French customs.

Wevat is on a mission to bring a convenient tax refund experience and help international travellers save more money when shopping in France. Our team is ready to help you every step of the way, so drop us a message in the app anytime you need us.

Enjoy your shopping! 🇫🇷

Wevat Team

How to get a tax refund on purchases from Louis Vuitton and Chanel in France? — Wevat (2024)

FAQs

How much VAT refund in France Louis Vuitton? ›

You will obtain a 12% VAT refund (excluding any foreign exchange fees) on purchases of over €100 made at a single store per transaction.

How to claim tax back on purchases in France? ›

Receive a tax exemption form

You must get a VAT refund form and sign this, with the vendor, at item purchase. Usually, the vendor has these forms available and will know what to do. In case there is any doubt, just know that both you and the vendor must sign the same form.

Can you get a VAT tax refund after leaving France? ›

Travellers from outside the EU may be entitled to a Value Added Tax (VAT) refund on the goods purchased during the trip to EU countries such as France. Normally, you'll need to get your VAT refund approved at your departure airport/ train station/ ferry port before leaving the last EU country.

What is the tax refund rate for tourists in France? ›

France will reimburse between 12% and 12% of the amount you spend during your trip on products subject to standard VAT rates. The minimum purchase threshold is 100 EUR.

Does Louis Vuitton give a full refund? ›

New and unused products in pristine condition, accompanied by the original receipt and tax-free form (if any and if the tax has not been refunded), can be returned for exchange, store credit or refund within 30 days from the date of purchase (with the exclusion of Harrods, Selfridges, Westfield and our airport stores, ...

How do I get VAT refund at Paris airport? ›

You can easily obtain an electronic duty-free slip by using the Pablo terminals at the airports. For an immediate VAT refund, you should present all your documents at the tax refund desk at the airport, the port or the train station from which you are departing.

Is there VAT on luxury goods in France? ›

VAT on luxury goods

All luxury goods are charged at the normal rate of 20%.

What purchases are eligible for VAT refunds? ›

So it's usually high-ticket items, like jewelry or fine clothing, that qualify for a VAT refund, not a paperback novel or suntan lotion. There are also a number of goods and services that are not eligible for refunds, including hotel rooms and meals.

What is the time limit for VAT refund in France? ›

Time limits:

To receive a refund: 6 months from the issuing date of the Tax Free Form.

Can you get VAT refund after leaving USA? ›

The United States Government does not refund sales tax to foreign visitors. The foreign country in which you paid the Value Added Tax (VAT) is responsible for refunding the tax. Some countries won't refund after the fact, so check with the Foreign Embassies & Consulates office of the country you visited. Also.

How to claim tax refund in USA for tourists? ›

The United States Government does not refund sales tax to foreign visitors. Sales tax charged in the United States is paid to individual states, not the Federal government - the same way that Value Added Tax (VAT) is paid in many countries.

How to claim a tax refund in France? ›

How do I get the tax refund form stamped? For goods purchased in France, you should go to a PABLO kiosk located by the Customs office at your airport terminal and scan your tax refund form. For goods purchased outside France, you should go directly to a Customs officer to get your tax refund form physically stamped.

Do you get tax refund with cash or card in France? ›

You can obtain an immediate refund in cash in euros, on your electronic wallet (e-wallet) or a deferred refund on your bank card for any French or international slip previously validated with customs located before the security checks.

What is 3% tax return France? ›

All properties located in France are subject to a 3% real estate tax. The tax is assessed annually on the fair market value of the real estate, in proportion to the direct or indirect interest held. All entities in the chain of ownership are jointly liable for the payment of the tax.

What is the VAT rate in France for luxury goods? ›

All luxury goods are charged at the normal rate of 20%. This includes jewelry, precious stones, caviar, tobacco, and cocoa-based products.

What is the VAT return rate in France? ›

The standard VAT rate in France is 20%.

It applies to most goods and services. The two reduced VAT rates are 10% and 5.5%. The super-reduced rate is 2.1%. France also has some zero-rated goods, the sale of which must still be reported on your VAT return, even though no VAT is charged.

In which country is Louis Vuitton the cheapest? ›

The combination of these factors often makes the price of LV items in France lower than in other countries. While France leads the pack, other European countries such as Italy and the UK also offer competitive prices due to similar VAT refund policies.

Is Louis Vuitton cheaper at the airport? ›

A: This varies according to the store. Unfortunately with Chanel and Louis Vuitton, you can only take advantage of duty free prices when flying internationally but with others such as Burberry, Mulberry and Gucci, you can buy duty free even when flying within the EU. Q: Can I visit the shops upon arrival to Heathrow?

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